The introduction of the UK e-visa for Indian citizens represents a significant shift in how travel to Britain is managed, as the UK moves from physical visa stickers to fully digital records of immigration status. This e-visa system is designed to modernise the process, reduce dependence on paper documents, and offer a more seamless experience for Indian travellers, while maintaining existing visa rules and categories.
UK e-Visa Initiative: A New Era for Indian Travellers
From 25 February 2026, the UK immigration system is transitioning from physical visa vignettes pasted into passports to electronic visas, or eVisas, for most non-British and non-Irish travellers, including Indian citizens. Under this system, an eVisa becomes the official digital record of a person’s immigration status, linked to their passport and accessible via an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Applicants will still apply for the same types of visas as before (visitor, student, work, settlement), but the visa will now be issued in digital form instead of as a sticker.
The move is part of a broader UK government plan to make borders fully digital, with physical visa stickers phased out after a transition period. Airlines and carriers will check a traveller’s eVisa or other digital permission before boarding, and may refuse boarding if a passenger does not hold a valid eVisa, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or other recognised permission.
How the UK e-Visa Works for Indian Applicants
Indian citizens still need a visa to travel to the UK; the eVisa does not replace the underlying visa requirement, but changes how that permission is stored and checked. Applicants continue to apply through official UK government channels, completing online forms, paying fees, and attending a Visa Application Centre (VAC) for biometrics and identity verification. However, unlike the old system, their passport is now typically returned on the same day as the VAC appointment, instead of being held until a vignette is pasted.
Once a decision is made, successful applicants receive an email and are directed to create or log into a UKVI online account, where their eVisa is stored. The eVisa record shows the visa type (such as visitor, student or worker), the conditions attached (for example, whether they can work or study), and the validity period. Travellers must ensure their current passport details are correctly linked to their UKVI account, so that airlines and border systems can verify their permission to travel automatically.
Application Steps and Practical Requirements
The core steps for Indian travellers applying under the eVisa-based system are: completing the online application form on the UK government website, paying the applicable visa fee, booking and attending a VAC appointment to provide biometric data and present the passport, and then, after approval, setting up a UKVI account to access the eVisa. Processing times for standard visitor visas are currently expected to remain broadly similar to earlier timelines (around 15 working days in many cases), with the hope of improvements over time rather than guaranteed 72-hour processing.
Applicants must still provide the usual supporting information and documents required for their specific visa category, such as a valid passport, evidence of funds, and purpose-of-visit documentation. The shift to eVisas primarily affects how the final permission is recorded and accessed, not the substantive eligibility criteria or documentary expectations.
eVisa, ETA, and Different Types of UK Travel Permission
The new digital system distinguishes between eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs), which serve different groups of travellers. Indian citizens, who are not visa-exempt, require a visa that will be issued as an eVisa once approved. By contrast, visitors from certain visa-exempt countries (such as the United States, Canada and France) must now obtain an ETA before travelling, at a published cost of £16 and with a validity of up to two years or until passport expiry.
For Indian travellers, the types of trips that previously required a standard visitor visa—such as tourism, visiting family and friends, or short business visits—continue to be covered by existing visa categories, which are now delivered in eVisa format. Similarly, those coming to the UK for study, work or longer-term stays still apply under the relevant routes, with their immigration status recorded digitally. The maximum stay durations and conditions for each visa type remain governed by UK immigration rules rather than by the fact that the visa is electronic.
Security, Data Protection, and UKVI Accounts
The Home Office emphasises that eVisas are more secure than physical documents because they cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with in the way a sticker or card can. Permission is stored on secure UKVI systems and linked to the traveller’s passport number, and carriers verify status electronically before allowing boarding. This shift also aligns with broader UK commitments to data security and modernised border controls.
Travellers manage their status through their UKVI account, where they can view their eVisa, update passport information, and check conditions of stay. Each traveller, including children and dependants, must have an account linked to their own passport, although a single email or phone number can be used to manage multiple family members’ accounts. This self-service model is intended to give applicants more control and transparency over their immigration records while maintaining compliance with applicable data protection standards.
Impact on India–UK Travel and Future Developments
The UK’s move to a fully digital immigration system is expected to influence how Indian travellers plan and manage their trips. Travel industry representatives in India have welcomed the fact that passports will usually be returned on the same day as the VAC visit, allowing applicants to apply for visas to other destinations or travel elsewhere while their UK application is processed. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for those with multi-country itineraries or tight travel schedules.
In the longer term, UK officials and industry stakeholders hope that digitalisation will lead to smoother journeys, fewer administrative bottlenecks, and better integration between carriers and border systems. While standard processing times for visas have not yet been radically shortened across all categories, there is an expectation that the eVisa infrastructure will support more efficient decision-making and travel verification over time. As more than 10 million eVisas have already been issued worldwide under the phased rollout, Indian citizens are becoming part of a broader shift toward borderless, digital travel documentation between India and the UK.
